How about some broccoli...

Apparently it’s asparagus season here in Hessen. Not just any asparagus, but the white kind that is harvested from underground before it grows above the earth. The Germans explain this vegetable as a very complicated and unique event that comes only once a year, however, they have no idea that we, in the U.S., can practically get white asparagus at any time because you can just grow it without sunlight. Same difference, no? Anyhow, Sunday evening at dinner, I was introduced to this local delicacy. In all honesty, it was just “ok.” Quite overcooked but drizzled with a special buttery hollandaise sauce. Meh. Don’t get what all the hoopla was about but I went with it nonetheless. Then for lunch the next day, the hosts served us their beloved "Spargel,” which is white asparagus and ham, a traditional German favorite. Granted, the asparagus was a bit better but each serving is like a pound’s worth and I was quickly reaching my limit. Well, little did I know, that evening I would be having asparagus quiche with our reisling wine tasting at the famous Robert Weil winery. I was starving after our 2-hour hike through the Rheingau seeing castle after castle that I had to force those bits of asparagus down in order to fill my belly. With the humidity, we have all been sweating like mad and every now and then I would get this gut-wrenching whiff of this vegetable - and we all know how urine is affected by the stuff. Ugh. Then, of course, as you might imagine, I continued to suffer as this trend progressed. Yesterday, at our first Rotary club presentation was proceeded by a prepared meal of asparagus and ham. In the evening, we were treated by the Germany GSE team with a dinner of asparagus and ham. At this point I’m thinking to myself, “this has got to end.” Perhaps there might be some reprieve from these edible spears in the near future. But SURPRISE, what do you think was served at lunch today at our second Rotary meeting? Oh yes, that’s right. F-ing white asparagus. That’s SIX meals in a row. SIX! There’s no telling what these people might do tonight for dinner.